Press release

Thu, Jun 13th 2013 09:15 am

Said he hopes
resolution can be found

Assemblyman
John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, voted Wednesday to dissolve the Buffalo
and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, which is the subject of a
dispute between the state of New York and the Canadian authorities.
Ceretto voted in favor of dissolution in order to speed up needed
improvements to the Peace Bridge on the American side, improvements
which his camp said are being held up by the Bridge Authority.

Ceretto
said he still believes a resolution between New York and the Canadian
authorities can be reached.

"My
top priority for the Peace Bridge is to see the desperately needed
improvements come to fruition as soon as possible. These improvements
will bring much needed economic development to Niagara Falls to
promote tourism and job creation," Ceretto said. "These
improvements have been discussed for 15 years. The people need action
on these important economic development initiatives. Lets move
forward and get them done."

The
dispute between New York and the Canadian authorities centers around
improvements that need to be made on the American side of the Peace
Bridge. A pre-inspection facility needs to be built in Fort Erie in
order to improve the flow of traffic. Ceretto's team said the
Canadians have stalled on this critical improvement. This has
resulted in a stalemate in negotiations that has forced this vote to
dissolve the Bridge Authority so that improvements on the American
side can move forward.

"My
vote reflects what is right for my constituents in Niagara Falls. The
situation has to be improved," Ceretto said. "If the Bridge
Authority will not work with us, then we need to act unilaterally to
make the improvements that will economically benefit the people of
Niagara Falls."